'Freak wave' kills passenger aboard cruise ship

What is being called a “freak wave” has killed one passenger aboard a cruise ship and caused another to be airlifted to shore.

CNN has reported that a passenger on board the Marco Polo ship has died after the ship was struck by a "freak wave during adverse sea conditions" as it made its way into the English Channel, a statement released on Friday by the ship's owner read.

The 85-year-old male passenger was killed, and a female passenger in her 70s was airlifted off the ship.

"One elderly passenger has died and a further passenger has been airlifted for further shore-side medical assistance," the cruise line said.

The Huffington Post noted that the British-based cruise ship was headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex ending a 42-night journey.

The cruise ship was built in 1965 and was previously operated by Transocean Tours in Germany. After undergoing some major alterations, the ship sailed for the Orient Lines from 1993 to 2008, before the United Kingdom-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages took over.